[texhax] Best way to include article.cls

[Michael Barr]

I am trying to update our journal's class file.  Till now, we have been 
using the file made for latex 2.09, making the fewest changes required for 
it to run in latex 2e.  I would like to start by including article.cls.  
What is the best way to do this?  I assume you could do 
\include{article.cls} but I want to enable the 12 pt option.  And I see 
that you have to set the options you want somehow.  Or I could just start 
our class file with the article.cls file and choose the options in the 
class file.  But then I want the 12pt clo file.  And I want to add a new 
option 
\DeclareOption{compromisepaper}
   {\setlength\paperheight {11.5in}%
    \setlength\paperwidth  {8.25in}}

Is there any general advice on how to do this?

Michael Barr